Exactly what makes a candidate "electable?"

[begin_within]

I just want to know the definition and qualifications. Thanks!

[Robbien]

1. When mainstream media, pundits and DC politicians say so

a person is deemed electable.

Has nothing to do with we the people who actually go and vote.

[The Straight Story]

2. I would guess:

Charisma and the ability to communicate well, in addition to fund raising and contacts.

It is a multi-tiered thing. You have to be likable, not too far one way or the other in the spectrum. Speak in general terms with no real plan because then people will tear apart the plan - say things like "We need to wipe out poverty" without giving real details about how :)

[TahitiNut]

8. 'say things like "We need to wipe out poverty" without giving real details about how'?

I remember a fellow that said we'd put a man on the moon before the end of the decade ... without giving any details about how.

:shrug: Egads. What a loon!

[The Straight Story]

13. Decent response my friend, but:

What we hear now is a group of candidates who are basically saying they all want the same things, and not spelling out real well their plans to fix em.

Unlike traveling to the moon, this is not rocket science - and I think many these days are afraid to say how out of fear of alienating voter X. They don't want to appear too liberal.

JFK took a stand on something, with a conviction people trusted. If Hillary (for example) says "We will get out of Iraq and fix health care in this country"...well, any candidate can say the same thing. It IS HOW that we as liberals are interested in on these issues.

If a candidate says "We will put a human on Mars by 2012" I know what that takes - money and research. HOW that happens is up to the scientists :) Fixing the issues here though, takes a plan - and there are many ways to approach a solution. I want to know HOW they plan on fixing things because that is what separates them right now (and it does not have to be super detailed - DK might say, as soon as I am in office we start bringing the troops home - how he does it, the logistics, is another matter. Another candidate may say 'as soon as I am in office we will review where we are in Iraq, commission studies, etc and so on'.

If JFK had said 'we will study how to put a man on the moon, look into how viable it is and examine all the courses, and then analyze the potential of putting someone there by the end of this decade' it might have sunk like a rock :)

You KNEW from hearing him say it that he wanted to do it. When I hear some candidates say they want to do something, it is flat with no passion. Get a candidate up there pointing their finger and saying we WILL leave Iraq by X date and be on fire about it and I might believe them without wondering how.

[flying_monkeys]

3. Vocal and articulate DUers? :)

Dunno - - Most of my voting life, the one's I vote for get the kiss of death (or, in the case of Gore, diebold machine-monkeying :) )

[bluestateguy]

4. You have to impress the Very Serious People in New York and Washington, DC

Have a lot of money in your campaign account and make a good impression on the Very Serious People at Georgetown cocktail parties.

If you are a good gabber on the Sunday Morning shows (when I always make it a point to be asleep).

It also helps to talk about political issues in the language of an incomprehensible centrist drivel, obscuring the differences between the two parties into a nebulous glop of muck.

But as much as we may mock it, if the Very Serious People decide you are unelectable, then look out, you'll never hear the end of it, and they will make your life hell.

[The Straight Story]

5. PS - is that a real pic of DK in your OP? Cause he looks like a bobble head

And yeah, he is getting my vote in the CA primary - but still, that pic weirds me out.

[begin_within]

9. No, fake

[TahitiNut]

6. Well, if one says a woman is "unelectable" - they're suspected of being a misogynist.

Well, if one says a black is "unelectable" - they're suspected of being a racist.

Back in 1960, 'some people' said that JFK was "unelectable." (After all, he was a Catholic. Horrors.)

:shrug:

It's always been easy to say that "other people" won't vote for someone - rather than take responsibility for one's own attitudes.

[Jim Sagle]

7. It's a media term meaning "a Democrat that the Republicans can beat."

[Blue_In_AK]

10. I would like a candidate who would put away the bombast

and talk to us like a normal person would, tell us the truth, give us real ideas for solutions, listen to our suggestions, find ways for us all to work together for the common good, and move this world forward. I'm tired of hawkish talk, all this US posturing on the world stage. I want a candidate with wisdom, who is a peacemaker, not a warmonger. A person who feels pain when others suffer.

Do we have such a candidate?

[napi21]

11. The majority have to "like you" as a person.

I know, I don't like it either, but that's the real truth!

The media phrased differently in 2000. They asked stupid things like who would you like to have a beer with, or who would you like to be your neighbor, but in the end, it boils down to which candidate do you "like"!

People seem to have to feel a comraderie with their candidate.

It matters that they don't say anything really awful, and that they aren't percieived radical on any issues, because that would cause many not to LIke them.

Sometimes it's even who do you dislike the least! If you have two candidates that you don't like, then the vote goes to the one you dislike the least! Believe me, THAT has happened more often than not!

[Hoof Hearted]

12. not being Kucinich, apparently.

Honestly? I think it's a tone. Difficult to describe.

[krispos42]

14. The perceived ability to fool enough of the people on election day

Or is that being cynical?!?!?

[Raksha]

15. That's a no-brainer: the support of the corporate media. n/t

[NuttyFluffers]

16. the "good hair" we all know the one!

:evilgrin:

ps: don't you go askin' me about the "good hair." i already told you, we all know the "good hair" when we see it. you know perfectly well which hair i'm talking 'bout! don't you go playin me for a fool now, y'hear?

[HeraldSquare212]

17. Ability to persuade people

that the course of action you propose to take is the right one.

[Cronopio]

18. The Beltway political gossip cult.

If it had anything whatsoever to do with the issues and qualifications, Kucinich would at least be one of the frontrunners and we'd all be referring to "President Dean" right now.

Make Kucinich electable.

[EFerrari]

19. Wall Street. n/t

[BuyingThyme]

20. Lots of votes.